FGCU Board Extends President Timur’s Contract, Increases Salary to $750K
FGCU trustees unanimously approve one-year contract extension and salary boost to $750K for President Aysegul Timur, with performance incentives potentially reaching $300K.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA — Florida Gulf Coast University trustees approved a one-year contract extension for President Aysegul Timur on Tuesday, along with a salary increase to $750,000.
The board extended Timur’s original three-year contract that began in July 2023, choosing not to use a new Board of Governors rule that would have allowed for extensions longer than one year. The trustees also approved increasing her performance incentive potential from 20% to 40% of her base pay.
Salary Increase Marks Substantial Raise
The new $750,000 salary represents a considerable increase from Timur’s original contract, which provided a $500,000 base salary in the first year with 4% annual increases. Under the enhanced performance structure, Timur could potentially earn up to $300,000 in additional incentive compensation.
Both Timur and board chair Larry Antonucci declined to comment on the contract extension through a university spokesperson.
Background and Experience
Timur brings extensive higher education experience to her role, having joined FGCU in 2019 and serving as vice president before her promotion to president in 2023. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of South Florida and spent 19 years at the former Hodges University, also located in Fort Myers, before joining FGCU.
According to her university biography, Timur is “widely known for building collaborative teams of university and community stakeholders to implement strategic initiatives, including workforce alignments.”
University Performance Under Leadership
During Timur’s tenure, FGCU has seen mixed results in key metrics. The university’s foundation secured a substantial $22 million donation for health care instructional technology within the past year, demonstrating strong fundraising capabilities.
However, the university has experienced a decline in research expenditures, dropping from $25 million in 2022-23 to $22 million in 2024-25, according to the most recent available data.
The contract extension comes as Florida’s higher education sector continues to evolve under state oversight. The Board of Governors’ new rule allowing longer contract extensions suggests a trend toward providing university presidents with greater job security, though FGCU opted for the more conservative one-year approach.
Timur will continue leading the Fort Myers-based university, which serves thousands of students in Southwest Florida, through at least July 2027 under the extended agreement.
